Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-12-02
First Jenny LiGd Ticket

In the Cosmopolitan Magazine, T
T. Barnum thus tells of the man VIII
bought the first Jenny Lind ticket il
this country:
knew that the fabulous sum O
money that | was to pay for her dul
Get notes would of itself be biz
advertisement;" that people would
begin to wonder what the price O
tickets would have to be Ia order t
even reimburse me; that many woult
fear they would not be able to pay
the price charged, etc.
This was exactly the state of pub
lie feeling O week before her arrival
when | announced that, in order t.
give all desirous to hear Jenny Line
an equal chance, the tickets would bt
sold at public auction, starting at tbs
nominal price of three dollars pei
ticket. 1t was acknowledged tha,
this plan was fair, but the wonder
grew as to how many times the
nominal price" the choice seats
would bring in this public competi
ton. All over the United States,
and Europe, the excited people were
waiting for the news on this point.
which would reach them as soon as
possible after the sale.
For ten days preceding the auc.
ton the newspapers were full OF pre-
dictions regarding the price of tick
cts. Everybody waited to attend the
first concert. and orders from all
parts of the country were sent to
friends in New York to secure tick
cts, if they could be bought at prices
that were Dot utterly fabulous.
It is everybody business to exer-
else the greatest possible foresight
whereby his calling can in an honest
way be profitable. l clearly saw
what effect this auction sale of Jenny
Lind tickets would have in the ey-
listing excited state of the public
mind; and that the higher the prices
obtained. the more would the frenzy
be increased Therefore, three days
before the auction of concert tickets
was to come eff, l went quietly to
John n. Genin, popular hat-maker,
and told him | had secret business
suggestion to impart, which if
shrewdly managed, would, as l be-
lieved, help him thousands of dollars
as an advertisement.
"W hat is it?" eagerly asked asked
Mr. Genin.
IBID off the first Jenny Lind
ticket, l replied; "and the higher
price paid the greater renown will
it give you all over the country with
in twenty-fonr hours after its pur.
chase"
Genin, who was a good advertiser,
instantly saw his opportunity; and
seizing my hand with an air of de-
light eagerly exclaimed; "Barnum,
you have made my fortune. | will
buy the first Jenny Lind ticket, but
/ will not mention it even to my
wife till / have secured it"
On reflection | feared that this bril-
liant idea might not strike any
body else, and consequently
the bidding would not run very
high; but as | knew that any busi-
ness man who bought the first ticket
would be great gamer thereby, |
quietly called ON DIR. Brandreth, the
great pill-maker and a tremendous
advertiser. | asked for private in
terview. The doctor invited me into
his Office, and locking the door, point
ed to an easy armchair, and then
said in low voice:
Friend Barnum, what is up"
"a mighty big thing for you," l
replied, replied, "if you will keep it
a profound secret for three days"
The Doctors eyes shone with delight
as be squeezed my hand. and said:
my dear Barnum, pledge my hon.
or not to divulge it to any living be-
ing till you say the word"
Buy the first Jenny Lind ticket
at auction, even if you pay high for
it," replied, land let every newspa-
per in America and Europe announce
that DR.: Brandretb, Jr., the maker of
the celebrated 'Brandreth's Pills. Sc
cured the first Jenny Lind ticket, at
fifty or hundred dollars, as the case
may be-"
The doctor smiled and replied:
Pretty good, Barnum, especially for
you, if you can sell ticket at that
price"
| was surprised at the calmness
of this remark, and said: Eyes, doc
tor, it may be good for me, but that
doesn't prevent its being success
full stroke Of policy for you"
The doctor gave me sly wink,
and merely remarked; "Barnum, we
all know you have fertile brain and
don't mise any opportunity to feather
your nest. Your foresight is remark
able, and generally quite profitable"
Nettled at the Doctors temporary
obtuseness. roplcd:
''Dr. Brandreth, l have long admir-
ed your ingenious methods of adver-
tising 'Bandreth's Pllls;' but if you
can't see the value to your business
OF my suggestion, | beg TO say you
will surely regret it when the first
Jenny Lind ticket falls into other
hands,"
The doctor was SO strongly i'm
pressed that my idea was a purely
selfish one that several minutes elaps-
ed before be began to see that, not.
withstanding should be benefited
by the proposed plan, it would not
prevent him from reaping harvest
at the same time. He then said:
81 thank you for the hint, Mr.. Bar
mum. Perhaps twenty or thirty dol
lara expended for the first ticket
would not be bad investment; so !
will send my cashier to the auction
with instructions to make q liberal
bid.n
Bidding the doctor goodbye,
walked down Broadway, feeling that
my plan had put two worthy and
ambitious gentlemen into frame o
mind that would result in q greater
| eclat for the Jenny Lind enterprise.